Box cab



Sept. 13, 1938. w. THOMAS BOX CAR 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 Sept. 13, 1938. w. THOMAS BOX CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 '5 lllll Sept. 13, 1938. w. THOMAS BOX CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 dbtouuq Sept. 13, 1938. H MA Re. 20,860

BO CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. L THOM AS BOX CAR Sept. 13, 1938.

Ori inal Filed Sept. 6, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 i t n i. 11 w P 3, 938. w. THOMAS Re. 20,860

BOX CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 2, as 33 3; 24;; 0 22 /0 gk'g'fl 22 jwvmtou Sept. 13. 1938.

w. L. THOMAS BOX CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Sept. 13, 1938.

w. 1.. THOMAS BOX CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 p 1938; w. L. THpMAS Re. 20,860-

BOX CAR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Reissued Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to The New York Central Company, a

corporation of New York Original No. 2,030,773, dated February 11, 1936,

Serial No. 688,397, September 8, 1933.

Applicatlon for reissue Deeemba' 29, 1937, Serial No.

This invention relates to improvements in box cars of the type designed for shipping mixed freight, or freight consisting of articles or parts v of various forms, sizes and compositions, and

particularly to a box car adapted for shipping automobile body parts or other automobile parts of various kinds or similar commodities.

The object of the invention is to providemeans for readily and conveniently variably partitioning the interior of a box car to divide the same into holding compartments or provide the same with supporting floors or platforms of suitable size or sizes for different kinds or sizes of goods to be shipped, whereby one and the same car may be used to hold mixed kinds and/or sizes of goods in separate lots in such manner as to keep the lots separated from each other and to enable the full capacity of the car to be used for shipment of such goods to the same destination or different destinations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of a partitionable box car embodying the invention and showing the improved features of construction residing in the car body itself.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through a portion of one of the end walls and a portion of the side wall of the car shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a is a horizontal section through one side of the car between standard door posts, showing the doorway construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the car side wall on such a plane as that indicated by line 3-4 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 2

on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away through a side wall of the car.

Fig. 51s a fragmentary side elevation of one of the perfo'rate inner walls of a side of the car.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 9-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through one side of the car at the doorway and looking toward one side of the doorway.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation looking from the exterior toward the doorway at one side of the car.

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view on line lO-il 55 of Fig. 9.

:4 Claims. (Cl. 105-316) Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, are views of various types of longitudinal compartment forming or supporting partitions employed in the doorway region of the car.

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are, respectively. a fragmentary side view, an end view and a bottom plan view of a cross piece forming a vertical partition, Figs. 17 and 19 showing the connection of the same with a perforate supporting wall.

Fig. 20 is a section through the latch pin or bolt shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19.

Figs. 21 and 22 are views similar to Figs. 17 and 18 showing another form of cross piece.

Figs. 23 and 24 are views similar to Figs. 21 and 22 of still another form of cross piece.

Figs. 25, 26 and 27 are views similar to Figs. 1'1.

18 and 19 of a cross piece employing a hinged type of latch.

Figs. 28 and 29 are fragmentary top plan and side elevations showing the use of a plurality of latches upon a cross piece or partition member.

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary face view of a perforate wall sheet showing the use of fastening brackets for secm'ing vertical and horizontal cross pieces or partition members thereto.

Fig. 31 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 32 is a diagrammatic view of the inside of the car showing some of the many arrangements which may be used for the formation of compartments or supporting platforms therein.

Fig. 33 is a view showing the use of perforated plates in cross partitions.

Figs. 34. and 35 are views similar to Figs. 25 and 26 showing modifications of the hinged latch shown therein.

Figs. 36 and 37 are side and end views of a supporting member, showing still further modifications of the hinge latch pin.

Fig. 38 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 36 and 37.

Referring now more particularly to the drawlngs, l designates the car body which is of usual box body form, and comprises the bottom 2, side walls 3, end walls 4 and roof 5. The bottom 2, end walls 4 and roof 5 may be of any suitable and approved construction, the present invention as herein disclosed residing more particularly in a novel construction of the side walls 3, although it is to be understood that the end walls may be constructed in the same manner as the side walls in the event that it should also be desired to adapt the end walls to serve as supporting surfaces The principle of the invention consists in the construction of the side walls, the end walls, if

desired, and supporting partitions also. if desired. oisheetmetalperioraterortheinterchangeable detachable and locking engagement therewith of supporting or partitioning members or various types, forms and rises, whereby compartments orplatformstoreceiveorsupportarticlesor partsoi'diiferentkinds silesand formsmaybe interchangeably provided whenever desired throughoutthelength.breadthanddepthofthe car.allowing theiullinternalareaoithecar. or any portion thereof, to be utilised for the storage and shipment of automobile or other parts soastokeepdissimilarlotsseparateandto enable these and other various kinds of articles whichmaybedissimilarinshapeandsiaeto be shipped in a safe, reliable, convenient and economical manner. Also the principle of the invention consists in constructing the doorways oithecarsoastoincreasetheavailablestorage capacityof the carandinprovidingsupporting and partitioningmeansi'orutilisingthe portion or the body for storage purposes transversely of the body from doorway to doorway. Furthermore the principle of the invention consists in constructingthecarwallswhicharetoserveas supports in a strong and durable manner, and in providing supporting and partition forming members of interchangeable type for application to the supporting walls and to each other, whereby storage compartments or supporting platformsmaybeproducedasciicumstancesmay require at desired points and levels throughout .thecarbody.

Each side wall 3 is provided with a central doorway 8 including terminal angle metal door postsl,|',anintermediatedoorposti,anda metal lintel beam l, and each portion of the walllbetweeneachdoorpost'L'l'andthecorner portionlatitsinterscctionwiththeendwalll onthesamesideoi'thetransversecenterofthe body comprises outer and inner wall sections II and II. The outer wall section II is formed of vertically extending metal sheets I! riveted or otherwise secured to each other at their lapping edgesandalsosecuredtothesidesillchannel and Z-bar eaves beams II, to channeled intermediate posts II, and to longitudinal (horiaontal) angle beams ll forming with the respectivepostsarlgid walli'raming. Theinnerwall section II consists of lo (horizontally) extending sheets II, the lowermost sheet hav- 'ingitslowerlongitudinaledgeilangedinwardly perforate, being formed throughout with longitudinal (horizontal) and transverse (vertical) rows of slots or openings 2|. Each opening is of double key-hole-shaped type, having alined straight end portions intersecting a central circular enlargement. These openings form keepers for interchangeable locking engagement with headed engaging and locking elements on partitioning and supporting members, as hereinafter described.

The doorway t in each wall is specially formed or modified as compared with a conventional construction in order that its width may be reduced when employing the car as a positioned car for the purpose set forth. To this end the intermediate door post I in each wall 3 is provided. and adoor 22 is mounted so that it may be used to permanently close the space or half of the doorway between the post i and one of the terminalposts,asthepost l',aslongasthecaris used as a partitioned car, leaving the remaining half of the doorway between the posts I and l normalLv open for service use, but adapted to be closed whenever desired by a door 22'. By this means a narrow service doorway of suillcient width is left for access to the car and loading purposes as well as unloading purposes if desired, which narrow doorway may be conveniently closed. and this arrangement allows the closed half of the doorway to be packed solidly from side to side of the car to increase its storage capacity. Seem-ed to the posts 1 and 8 at the sides of the open portion of the doorway are channeled holders 2! and 14, each consisting of a U-shaped channel member having a zig-zag partition strip 25 arranged therein and forming superposed holding sockets I3 and 24' of different depths. These sockets, in the case of the holder 23. are closed at their outer and inner sides and open only at the open side of the channel facing the doorway, while in the case of the holder 24 the sockets are not only open at the side facing the doorway but have lateral inlet and exit openings formed by slots or notches in the outer flange of the holder 24. The car body thus constructed is adapted to be subdivided into goods holding compartments at desired points and levels or provided with goods supporting platforms at desired points and levels by means of partitioning and supporting members and doorways closing members of various kinds or types, some of which are herein shown, the construction and use of which I will now proceed to describe.

Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, of the drawings show diil'erent sizes or depth and types of closure and supporting members for use across the open doorways to serve as supports for partitions or platform forming elements arranged to provide compartments or platforms at different points and levels from side to side of the car in the doorway region. As shown, these supports or partitions may be of diflerent depths to secure a desired spacing of superposed platforms formed thereby. For example, a single piece or unitary wooden supporting member in the form of a bar II is provided to extend between the holders 23 and 24 with its ends seated in the proper sockets 23', 24' of the holders 2! and 24, the ends of which bar are partially cut away to form tongues 21 (one of which is shown) to engage the holder sockets. This bar may be of any suitable depth and one of these bars may be provided across each doorway at the sides of the car on which articles may be directly supported or on which ao,eso

planks may be laid to form a supporting platform. Fig. 12 shows another form of supporting member comprising a bar 22 reinforced by an angle iron wear piece 22 and to the base of which is secured a base piece ll disposed edgewise at right angles thereto and forming therewith a supporting member of inverted T-shape in cross section. The ends of the bar 22 project beyond the ends of the base piece 22 and are cut away to form tongues 28', one of which is shown, for engagement with the sockets in the holders 23 and 24. On this support bars or planks extending transversely of the car may be laid to form a supporting platform for goods at a desired level. In the cases of the use of the bars 26 and 28 the platform bars or planks laid thereon may be nailed or otherwise properly secured thereto. In Fig. 131s shown a supporting member comprising a bar Ii having an angle metal reinforcement 22 secured thereto, which bar may be of proper cross-sectional dimensions so that its ends may be fitted directly into proper sockets of the holders 22 and 24. To the upper surfaces of this bar one or more L-shaped or half-loop clips 22 may be secured, each to receive a supporting bar or plank 22 resting on the bar II, and each clip having a clamping screw 34 to secure the supporting bar or plank in position. Fig. 14 shows a partition or supporting member 25 formed of three superposed bars united by angle metal ties 36, one end of the member 35 being formed to provide a tongue 21 to engage one of thegjsockets in the holder 28 and the other end ofgth member 35 being provided with spaced tongues" to engage a socket or adjacent sockets in the holder 24. This member is formed with spaced openings 39 to receive bars 39 on which platform boards may be laid or from which goods may be directly supported. The tie member 38 adjacent to the tongues 38 carries a pivoted latch 40 to engage the holder 24 to retain the member 35 against any possibility of casual displacement therefrom. Fig. 15 shows a supporting or partitioning member I composed of a pair of superposed bars secured together by tie blocks l2 and formed to provide at one end a tongue 43 to engage the holder 23 and at its opposite end with spaced tongues 44 to engage the holder 24. This member 4| is adapted to serve as a support for bars, planks or other goods supports or compartment or platform forming members. Fig. 16 shows a supporting or partitioning member 45 comprising spaced top and bottom bars 46 and 4! reinforced by metal angles 48 and connected and held in spaced relation by ties 49. Between the bars 46 and 41 one or more platform or goods supporting bars may be received and held in half clips 50 provided with clamping screws or in a loop 52, one or more of which may be provided.

Supporting or partitioning members of the types shown in Figs 11 to 16, inclusive, may be used in pairs across the doorways at opposite sides of the car, to serve as auxiliary closures for said doorways in connection with doors or to serve as grate-like closures in the absence of doors. They also may be used to support compartment forming partitions or platform supporting bars whereby one or more compartments of different depths or platforms at diiferent elevations may be formed across the car in the region of the doorways. In placing each supporting or partitioning member in position the tongued end thereof to be engaged with the holder 23 is slipped endwise into the proper socket in said holder and then the opposite tongued end is brought into alinement with the lateral notch or notches in the holder 24 communicating with the proper receiving socket therein and the said t gued end is then slipped laterally through the notch or notches into the socket. By a reversal of this mode of application each supporting or partitioning member may be withdrawn from engagement with the holders, as will be readily understood.

Figs. 1'! to 32, inclusive, show the supporting or partitioning members adapted for application to the perforate inner side walls, while Fig. 33 shows the use of perforate plates similar to the perforate wall plates as cross partitioning and supporting plates. In Figs. 1'7 to 20, inclusive, a partitioning member is shown comprising a supporting bar 52 having an angle metal reinforcement 5, to which bar are secured one or more partition boards or plates 55. At each end of the bar the reinforcement 54 projects and carries a U-shaped bracket 56 in which is mounted a casing 51 for a sliding latch bolt 58. This bolt has a pin 59 slidable in a guide slot 80 in the casing and engageable and disengageable by reverse rotary movements of the bolt with recesses ii to lock the bolt in retracted and projected positions. The outer end of the bolt is provided with a T-head 62 of a size and shape corresponding to the perforations or openings in the perforateinner walls It, the arrangement being such that when the bolt is retracted with the pin 59 in the slot 80 opposite the inner locking recess the head 62 of the bolt will lie, when the partition is disposed in position for engagement with an opening 2i in the perforate wall IS, with its head in position to pass through said opening, so that by means of the pin 59 the bolt may be projected so that the head will lie on the outer side of the wall It and then by rotating the bolt through an arc of 90 the head 62 may be turned to lie crosswise of the opening and locked in such position by engagement of the pin with the outer locking recess. By engagement of the locking bolt at the opposite end of the partition member with a corresponding opening in the opposite wall l6 and the placing of one or more other partitions and floor board or platform board supports in position for cooperation therewith a compartment of desired size and at any desired position in the length of the car and at any desired elevation may be provided.

Figs. 21 and 22 show a type of. horizontal support which may be connected in a similar manner to opposite walls l0 and which comprises a filler bar 63 fitted and secured in a channeled metal reinforcing member 64 to which a pair of latch devices of the same construction shown in Figs. 17-20 are applied. Supporting bars of this type may be extended across the car body between and connected with the opposite wall sheets l6 either to directly support goods or to serve as supports on which planks or plates may be laid to form a goods supporting platform.

Figs. 23 and 24 show a supporting member formed oi united wooden plies or bars 65 and 66, the former recessed at each end, as shown at 61, to receive a locking latch of the character previously described and the other being formed with a corresponding finger recess 88 to admit access toengageanopeninginthe'sheetl 'lhisla plate II restsagainst the underside of the when in engaging position so that it will be with thebarwhentheweightofthebarandthe load rests thereon. but upon lifting the bar the character previously described for engagement with correspondingly spaced perforations or openingsinasheet ,sothatasupportingbarls provided which may be of considerable width and adapted to be held securely in place.

Figs. 30 and 31 show a bar or partition member ll formed of wood with corner reinforcements II which is adapted to be' secured either vertically or horizontally to asheet ll, asshown in Fig. 30, by means of saddle brackets ll engaging its opposite side edge or bottom face, which brackets have attaching flanges I! slotted to receive fastening bolts II for engagement with the perforations or openings in the sheets. With this construction the brackets may be readily and conveniently applied in supporting or holding position and as readily removed and certain of the brackets may be left permanently in place under certain conditions, thus reducing time and labor in applying parts for use in making the same general shipments from time to time.

Fig. 32, as stated, shows an arrangement of supporting and partitioning members in a car so as to provide compartments ll and platforms .2 for holding goods in position therein. while Figs. 32 and 33 also show the use of perforated plates 83 as cross partitioning plates which may be provided with latch bolts or the like to engage the perforations in the sheets I, or carried by cross bars such as bars 63, ll, etc., so provided, and which are adapted for cooperation with longitudinally arranged partitions having latch members to engage the perforations therein. whereby provision is made for subdividing the interior of the car both longitudinally and transversely into compartments as desired.

Fig. 32 also shows the use of bars, such as bars 53 or any of the other styles herein disclosed, or of different dimensions and arranged to serve as supports for wooden platforms I! or wooden vertical partitions .83. The platforms in such cases may be removably mounted in position and provided with cleats 82a to engage the bars and hold the platforms from shifting. Of course, metal platforms so constructed may be used and the pd'tltions I may be made of metal, perforate or imperforate, and they may be directly supported from the side walls instead of being supported by bars If. Fig. 32 further shows a structure in which bars '4 carrying uprights or partitions II are provided with cleats or ledges It to support a platform board or plate I! to form a trough-like or cradle-like holder for lading, and in Fig. 32 is also shown a rack or holder formed of bars or partitions ll connected by cross pieces I! and which. as shown in the particular instance,

isarrangedtoformwiththefloorashallow receptacle for holding ladlng of a certain or various kinds.

In Figs. 34 to 38, inclusive, I have shown still other types of bars with hinged latch plates insteadofbolts whichmay beemp y d. Inl'lgs.

90,000 aswinsing 1mm plate 1: mm a projecting uandafiawoodenbarflisshownwbichisprovided with an angle metal reinforcement ",me part of which underlies the bar, and to which partsahinged latch ",lloftheklndshownin Figs. 25,26and2'lisrivetedorotherwiseapplied. Thisbarmayserveasasupportforapartition memberll. InFlgs.36,3'land38isshownaba-r 02 having an angle metal reinforcement 03 one part of which imderlies the bar and to which is appliql'alatchcomprisi gahingingplateu riveted or otherwise secured to said reinforcement part which is embraced by the forked part Qlofalatchmember I. connected theretobya hinge pin .1, the opposite end of the latch member having a pair of duplicate or twin latch portions 08 to engage a pair of adjacent openings in a plate ll.

Bytheuseofanyoneormoreoftheseveral styles of supporting and partitioning members the interior of the car body may be provided with compartments and supporting members or supporting platforms whereby the entire area of the interior. of the body may be employed for storage purposes and parts or goods to be shipped supported singly or in lots therein so that the lots may be kept separate for convenience in shipping and loading and unloading them as well as in transferring them from place to place.

It will be observed that the supporting memher It bridging the spaces between'the intermediate posts of each side wall on opposite sides of the doorway in said wall lie in a common longitudinal plane or flush with each other. and that the supporting members which bridge the space between the doorway posts of each wall when placed in position lie in the same longitudinal plane as and flush with the aforesaid members it of the wall. By this arrangement all of the transverse supporting or partitioning members extended across-the car between wall sheets or members it of the opposed walls, or between the supporting members bridging the door posts at the oppomte sides of the car, may be made of the same length for interchangeable use and engagement with any sets of oppositely disposed and transversely alined supporting members on the opposed walls.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved partitioned car construction will be readily understood and its advantages appreciated by those versed in the art without a further and extended description. While the constructions disclosed are preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Although the foregoing covers applications to cars with double doors, it should be specifically understood that the invention herein described may readily be applied to cars having single side doors and with any form of side post, eaves beams, or side sill.

What I claim is:-

1. In a box type freight car, the'combination of a car body having oppositely disposed walls, each wall comprising spaced outer and inner vertical wall sections, said inner wall sections extending substantially from roof to floor, the inner wall sections of the walls being provided throughout the wall sections with correspondingly arranged vertical and horizontal rows of openings therein, 7

a plurality of supports adapted to be extended between and mounted upon the inner wall sections of said oppositely disposed walls for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged vertical load carrying shelves and vertically arranged load carrying partitions or load displacement preventing abutments at different points in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to. each other on said walls, said supports having engaging elements interchangeably engageable with the openings in the inner wall sections to mount the individual supports at different points in horizontally or vertically spaced relationship to each other on the opposed walls, and reinforcing and bracing means in the spaces between the outer and inner wall sections of the respective walls rigidly uniting the inner and outer wall sections of each wall and sustaining the inner wall sections against distortion or collapse under the strains of the load weights supported by the mounted supports therefrom.

2. In a box type freight car, the combination of a car body having oppositely disposed walls, each wall comprising spaced outer and inner vertical wall sections, said inner wall sections extending substantially from roof to floor, posts arranged between the wall sections and supporting the outer wall sections, the inner wall sections of each wall being formed of parallel metal sheets having flanges at their juxtaposed edges bent outwardly toward the associated outer wall section, and said inner wall sections being provided throughout the wall sections with correspondingly arranged vertical and horizontal rows of openings therein, a plurality of supports adapted-to be extended between and mounted upon the inner wall sections of said oppositely disposed walls for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged vertical load carrying shelves and vertically arranged load carrying partitions or load displacement preventing aboutments at different points in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to each other on said walls, said supports having engaging elements interchangeably engageable with the openings in the inner wall sections to mount the individual supports at different points in horizontally or vertically spaced relationship to each other on the opposed walls, and longitudinally extending reinforcing and bracing elements in the spaces between the outer and inner wall sections of the respective walls secured to the posts and flanges of the inner walls and coacting therewith to rigidly unite the inner and outer wall sections of each wall so as to sustain the inner wall sections against distortion or collapse under the strains of the load weights supported by the mounted supports therefrom.

3. In a box type freight car, the combination of a car body having oppositely disposed walls, each wall comprising spaced outer and inner vertical wall sections, said inner wall sections extending substantially from roof to floor, the inner wall sections of the walls being provided throughout the wall sections with correspondingly arranged vertical and horizontal rows of horizontally elongated openings therein, said rows ofopenings being staggered with relation to each other, a plurality of supports adapted to be extended between and mounted upon the inner wall sec-' tions of said oppositely disposed walls for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged vertical load carrying shelves and vertically arranged load carrying partitions or load displacement preventing abutments at different points in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to each other on said walls, said supports having engaging elements interchangeably engageable with the openings in the inner wall sections to mount the individual supports at different points in horizontally or vertically spaced relationship to each other on the opposed walls, and reinforcing and bracing means in the spaces between the outer and inner wall sections of the respective walls rigidly uniting the inner and outer wall sections of each wall and sustaining the inner wall sections against distortion or collapse under the strains of the load weights supported by the mounted supports therefrom.

4. In a box type freight car, a car body having a wall comprising spaced outer and innervertical wall sections, said inner wall section extending substantially from roof to floor, the inner wall section being provided substantially throughout its area with vertical and horizontal rows of openings therein, a plurality of supports adapted to be mounted upon the inner wall section for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged vertical load carrying shelves and vertically arranged partitions or load carrying or displacement preventing abutments at different points horizontally and vertically of said walls, said supports having engaging members at one end for interchangeable engagement with any of said openings to mount the individual supports at diflerent points in horizontally or vertically spaced relation to each other on the inner wall, means for supporting the opposite ends of said supports, and reinforcing and bracing means in the space between the outer and inner wall sections of the wall rigidly uniting said inner and outer wall sections so as to susta n the inner wall section against buckling or collapse under the strains of the load weights supported therefrom by the mounted supports.

5. In a box type freight car, a car body having a wall comprising spaced outer and inner vertical wall sections, said inner wall section extending substantially from roof to floor, the inner wall section being provided substantially throughout its area with vertical and horizontal rows of openings therein, a plurality of supports adapted to be mounted upon the inner wall section for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged vertical load carrying shelves and vertically arranged partitions or load displacement preventing abutments at diiIerent points horizontally and vertically of said walls, slidable and rotatable engaging members on the supports having T- headed ends for interchangeable engagement at one end with any of said openings to mount the individual supports at different points in horizontally or vertically spaced relation to each other on the inner wall, means for supporting the opposite ends of said supports, and reinforcing and bracing means in the space between the outer and inner wall sections of the wall rigidly uniting said inner and outer wall sections so as to sustain the inner wall section against buckling or collapse under the strains of the load weights supported by the mounted supports therefrom.

6. In a box type freight car, a car body having a wall comprising spaced outer and inner vertical wall sections, said inner wall section extend-- ing substantially from root to floor, the inner wall section being provided substantially throughout its area with vertical and horizontal rows of openings therein, a plurality of supports adapted to be mounted upon the inner wall section for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged ranged partitions or load displacement preventing abutments at difl'erent points horizontally and vertically of said walls, each support having an engaging member pivotally mounted at its inner end on the lower face of said support adjacent an end thereof and said engaging memher having a free outer end portion for interchangeable engagement with any of said openlugs to mount the support at different points horizontally or vertically on ,the inner wall, means for supporting the opposite ends of the supports, and reinforcing and bracing means in the space between the outer and inner wall sections of the wall rigidly uniting said inner and outer wall sections so as to sustain the inner wall section against buckling or collapse under the strains of the load weights supported therefrom by the mounted supports.

7. In a railway box car, longitudinally spaced posts at the sides of the car, an outer enclosing wall formed of wall sheets secured to the posts, perforated inner goods supporting wall sheets spaced from the outer wall sheets, said inner wall sheets extending longitudinally of the car and being disposed contiguously one above another between the car floor and roof lines to provide wall surfaces having perforations extending substantially from the floor to the roof of the car, the perforations in each inner wall sheet extending along the sheet from end to end thereof, and said inner wall sheets bridging adjacent posts and being connected thereto and supported thereby, and adjustable supports extending transversely of the car and having projections at the ends thereof engaging selected perforations of said inner wall sheets, said supports being bodily adjustable vertically or longitudinally of the car at any point longitudinally of the wall sheets for engagement of said projections with selected perforations at any point in v the length of the walls or height thereof between floor and .roof.

8. In a railway box car, longitudinally spaced posts at each side of the car including end posts, door posts and intermediate posts, said door posts having keepers disposed at spaced intervals substantially from the floor to the roof of the car, superposed adjustable supports adapted to bridge across between the door posts and having end projections to engage selected keepers thereof, an outer enclosing wallformed of wall sheets secured to the posts, inner goods supporting wall sheets spaced from the outer wall sheets, said inner wall sheets extending longitudinally of the car and disposed above one another at levels between the floor and roof of the car and forming with the adjustable supports between the posts supporting surfaces at each side of the car extending from end to end of the car, each inner wall sheet having perforations extending along the sheet from end to end thereof, said inner wall sheets bridging adjacent posts and being supported thereby and havin flanges thereon engaging and spacing the sanie from the posts, and adjustable supports extending transversely of the car and having projections at the ends thereof interchangeably engageable with selected perforations at any point in the length and height of said inner wall sheets.

9. In a railway box car, side walls having posts, goods supporting members supported on the inner faces of the posts, said supporting members comprising longitudinally extending sheets mounted one above another and adjoining each vertical load carrying shelves and vertically arother at different levels in the height of the walls" substantially between the floor and the roof of the car, each sheet having perforations extend ing therealong from end to end and flanges thereon engaging and spacing the same from the posts, and adjustable cross bars disposed transversely of the car and bodily adjustable at any point in the length of the car both longitudinally and vertically of the perforated'sheets and having projections at the ends interchangeably engageable with selected perforations of said supporting sheets at any point in the length and height of the walls.

10. In a railway box car, side walls having posts, goods supporting members on the inner faces of the posts, said supporting members comprising longitudinally extending sheets mounted one above another and adjacent each other at different levels in the height of the walls substantially between the floor and the roof of the car, each sheet having a plurality of horizontal rows of closely spaced perforations extending therealong from end to end with the perforations of one row staggered with relation to the perforations of an adjacent row and each sheet having flanges thereon engaging and spacing the same from the posts, and cross bars disposed transversely of the car and adjustable at any channel shaped posts at the sides of the car having their channels facing outwardly, a wall fastened to the side flanges of the posts, so that the webs of said posts are spaced inwardly from said wall, longitudinally extending inner goods supporting sheets bridging the posts and connected to and supported by the webs thereof, said sheets being arranged on each wall at adjoining levels, in the height of the wall substantially between the floor and the roof of the car-and each having perforations extending therealong from end to end, and supports adjustable at any point in the length of the walls longitudinally and vertically of said walls and extending transversely of the car and having projections at the..ends thereof interchangeably engageable with selected perforations of said inner supporting sheets at any point in the length and height of any of said sheets.

12. In a box type freight car, longitudinally spaced posts at each side of the car body, a wall at each side of the car body comprising sheets afllxed at the outer sides of the posts, goods supporting means at the inner sides of the posts comprising sheets extending longitudinally of the car and bridging adjacent posts, said goods supporting sheets being in close relation in adjoining relationship at different levels between the floor and the roof of the car, each goods sup-, porting sheet being provided with perforations extending therealong from end to end, some of said perforations facing the posts. supports adapted to be extended transversely of the car between the goods supporting sheets and to be adjusted at any point in the length of said sheets longitudinally and vertically of said sheets and having engaging elements at their ends.interchangeably engageable with the perforations in the goods supporting sheets at any point in the length and height thereof, and bracing and supporting projections on the goods supporting sheets ens s s said posts and su p rting said sheets therefrom in spaced relation thereto to accommodate the projections on the transverse supports engaged with the perforations facing the posts.

18. In a box type freight car, longitudinally spaced posts at each side of the car body, a wall comprising sheets attached to the outer faces of the posts, goods supporting members on the inner faces of the posts formed of parallel metal sheets extending longitudinally of the car and bridging the posts and arranged one above another and adjoining one anotherat different levels between the floor and roof of the car, said goods supporting sheets being each provided with at least two rows of perforations extending therealong from end to end, said sheets being mounted in horizontally and transversely alined pairs at opposite sides of the car, a support adapted'to be extended transversely of the car between any two horizontally and transversely alined goods supporting sheets and to be adjusted at any point in the length of said sheets longitudinally and vertically thereof and having projections at the ends thereof interchangeably engageable with selected matching perforations of the alined sheets at any point in the length and height thereof, and reinforcing and supporting projections on the goods supporting sheets engaging the posts and supporting said sheets therefrom in spaced relation thereto.

14. In a box type freight car, longitudinally spaced posts of U-shaped cross section having their open sides facing outwardly and their webs facing inwardly, wall sheets fastened to the outer faces of the posts and closing the open sides thereof, goods supporting sheets extending longitudinally of the car on the inner sides of the posts and bridging adjacent posts, said goods supporting sheets being arranged one above another at adjoining levels between the floor and roof levels of the car and each provided with a row of perforations extending therealong from end to end, cross bars disposed transversely of the car and adjustable at any point in the length of the walls longitudinally and vertically of said walls having projections at their ends selectively engageable with any of the perforations of the goods supporting sheets at any point in the length and height of said sheets, and means on the goods supporting sheets engaging the webs of the posts and supporting said sheets therefrom.

15. In a box type freight car, the combination of a car body having at each side longitudinally spaced posts, outer wall sheets secured to the outer faces of the posts and inner goods supporting sheets or racks arranged on the inner sides of the posts in superposed and adjoining relationship at different elevations from roof to floor, each goods supporting sheet or rack bridging adjacent posts and being provided with rows of openings extending therealong, a plurality of supports adapted to be extended transversely of the car and to be adjusted at any point in the length of the goods supporting sheets horizontally and vertically of said sheets and to be interchangeably mounted upon said goods supporting sheets for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged load carrying shelves or vertically arranged load carrying partitions or load displacement preventing abutments at different points in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to each other, said supports having engaging elements at their ends interchangeably engageable with theopenings atanypointinthelenkth and height of said goods supporting or rack sheets.

and supporting and reinforcing means on said inner goods supporting or rack sheets engaging -the posts and supporting said sheets therefrom in spaced relation thereto. I I

16. In a railway box car, longitudinally spaced posts aiiixed at the sides of the car including end posts, door posts and intermediate posts, supporting members adapted to be disposed to bridge adjacent pairs of doorposts and having perforasupported upon the posts in spaced relationthereto and having a plurality of horizontal rows of closely spaced perforations extending therealong from end to end with the perforations of one row staggered with relation to the perforations of an adjacent row, and adjustable cross members disposed transversely of the car and adjustable at any point in the length of the car vertically and horizontally of the second-named supporting members and having projections at the ends thereof interchangeably engageable with the perforations of said supporting members at any point in the length and height thereof.

17. In a box car, a car body having a doorway with a row of keepers at each side of the doorway extending substantially from bottom to top of the doorway, and a vertically adjustable partitioning unsupporting member adapted to be positioned across the doorway at any elevation and engaged with selected keepers, said member being movable into and out'of operative position with relation to the doorway in a direction transversely and longitudinally of the car and provided at its opposite ends with engaging means for engagement with the keepers, the engaging means at at least one end of the supporting member comprising a sliding bolt mounted thereon for movement into and out of keeper engaging position.

18. In a railway box car. longitudinally spaced posts forming parts of the side frames of the car, said posts being channel shaped with their channels facing outwardly and closed by the side walls and with their webs spaced inwardly from the side walls, side racks bridging adjacent posts and supported from the webs of the posts in spaced relation thereto, said side racks having perforations extending therealong, and cross bars disposed transversely of the car and adjustable at any point in the length of said racks vertically and horizontally thereof and having projections at the ends thereof interchangeably engageable with selected perforations of said side racks at any point in the length and height thereof.

19. In a railway box car, longitudinally spaced posts forming parts of the side frames of the car, said posts being of U-shaped cross section, and each having a web portion spaced inwardly from the side walls of the car, side racks bridging adjacent posts and having perforations extending therealong, said side racks being provided with supporting means engaging the webs of the posts the ends thereof interchangeably engageable with selected perforations of said racks.

21. lnaboscanacarbodyhavingsuppcrting surfaces mounted vertically in opposed and spaced relation to each other and each having a vertical row of perforations therein, and an adjustable supporting member bridging the space between said surfaces and having means at each end thereof engageable with the perforations in said surfaces, said means at at least one end of the member comprising a tongue hingedv to the underside of the member by a pivot extending transversely of the member and located inwardly of the end of the member for movement toward and from the same to locking and releasing 'positions and supporting and non-supporting positions with relation to said member.

22. In a railway box car, opposed supporting members onthe car body each having a vertical row of alined regularly spaced perforations therein extending substantially from floor to roof of the car, and an adjustable supporting member bridging the space between said members and adjustable to register with alined perforations at any height between the floor and roof of the car and having at each end a plurality of spaced projections to engage selected alined perforations of the supporting members.

and spaced outer and inner vertical wall sections.

said inner wall sections comprising sheets extending longitudinally of the car and being ar ranged in parallel relation one above another contiguous to each other to collectively cover the space substantially from floor to roof of the car. the inner wall sheets of the walls being provided throughout the wall sheets with correspondingly arranged vertical and horizontal rows of horizontally elongated openings therein. said rows of openings being staggered with relation to each other, a plurality of supports adapted to be extended between and mounted upon the inner wall sheets of said oppositely disposed walls for supporting therefrom horizontally arranged vertical .load carrying shelves and vertically arranged load carrying partitions or load displacement preventing abutments at different points in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship to each other on saidwalis between the floor and roof levels, said supports being bodily adjustable at any point in the length of the inner wall sheets vertically and horizontally of said well sheets and having engaging elements at their ends interchangeably ble with the openings in the vinner wall sheets at any point in the length and height of said wall sheets to mount the individual supports at different points in horizontally or vertically spaced relationship to each othenon the oppomd walls, said inner wall sheets bridging adjacent posts. and means supporting said inner wall'sheets from said posts.

WHLIAM L. THOMAS. 

